Velocipede



(No Model.)

J. D. KEATING.

VELOOIPEDE.

Patented Dec. 29, 1891;

JOHN D. HEATING, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,934, dated December 29, 1891.

Application filed May 1, 1891. Serial No. 391,293. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. KEATING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, inthe county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification.

My improvements relate to the saddle-support and have for their object the provision of easier seat for the rider; and the invention consists in the combination and construction, as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a side elevation of a complete velocipede having my improvements. Fig. II is an enlarged side elevation, in partial section, of my device; and Fig. III is an enlarged detail View of the same.

In the drawings, the backbone A is shown prolonged from the rear fork in the plane of the rear wheel backward and upward, to be joined at the end of such extension by a hinge B to the end of a horizontal arm 0 of the saddle-post, lying in the same plane. The hinge B is to the rear of the center of gravity of the saddle I and interposed between the arm 0 and the backbone A, and approximately under the center of gravity of the loaded saddle is a vertical spring-cushion D, secured at its ends, respectively, to the arm 0 and backbone A, so that the weighted saddle tied to said cushion becomes alever, having the hinge B for its fulcrum. The cushion D is formed of two telescopic tubular sections Z) d. The

lower one I) is rigidly attached at its lower end to the backbone A and the upper one cl is hinged at its upper end totlie arm 0, so as to permit the two to reciprocate when the arm 0 swings upon the hinge B, and between the two ends of the tube formed by the sections 19 d and made fast at its two ends to the corresponding inner ends of the sections is a coil-spring F, which from this arrangement becomes a double-acting spring to restore the saddle from a vertical deflection in either direction. Around the section clisa split clamp II, by means of which the two sections 1) (I may be clamped together when it is desired to make of the cushion D a rigid support.

In this device the leverage exerted by the saddle upon the coil-spring enables such a strong spring to be used that its action in both directions is insured, with the result of a 5 5 perfectly uniform and easy motion to the rider, as the result of any jolt to the wheels.

In construction I prefer, as shown in Fig.

II, in the socket 3 receiving the end of the backbone A and ends of braces 25 15,. forming the rear fork, to braze the lower section b of cushion D and fill up its end with a solid plug of soft metal, into which passes the screw 'm to firmly hold the adjacent end of coil-spring F. The upper end of section (Z is 6 also filled with a solid plug to afford a firm hold to screw or, securing the other end of said spring, and said screw may extend in either direction through said plug.

The hinge of section (Z to arm 0 is prefer- 7o ably formed, as shown in Fig. III, of two wings or side flanges s s, inclosing a flattened surface of arm 0, and held thereto by a hingebolt 20. The hinge b, as shown,is preferably slightly below the top of section dot the cushion. The extension affording the lever-hinge for arm 0 may be a tube stiffened to any required degree by filling.

Now having described my invention, What I claim is 1. In velocipedes, a rearward and upward prolongation of the backbone, a horizontal arm of the saddle-post,ahingeformed of their adjacent ends in rear of the center of gravity of the saddle, anda spring-cushion interposed 85 forward of said hinge between the saddle-post arm and the backbone, and consisting of telescopic sections, one'of which is rigid with the backbone and the other hinged to the saddlepost arm, and an inclosed coil-spring having 0 its ends respectively fixed to the inner ends of the telescopic sections, all combined and operating substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In velocipedes,arearwardextendingarm 5 of the backbone and a rearward-extending arm of the saddle-post, hinged at their adjacent ends back of the center of gravity of the saddle, a spring-cushion interposed forward sections, and a clamp encircling the outer secof said hinge between the fixed frame and the tion for bin ding the two together, all combined horizontal arm of the saddle-post, and eonand operating as set forth.

sisting of telescopic sections, one of which JOHN D. KEATING. 5 is fast to the fixed frame and the other hinged \Vitnesses:

to the saddle-post arm, with an inclosed coil- R. F. HYDE,

spring fixed at opposite ends to the telescopic ROBERT M. KEATING. 

